Metallic screw cap for bottle

ABSTRACT

The present application describes a metallic screw cap for bottles that comprises a cork section with truncated cone shape joined to the inner surface of the upper end of said cap. The metallic screw cap for bottles described in this invention allows easy implementation, i.e. it does not change the bottling process of bottles with metallic caps; it further enhances the sealing properties of the cap and promotes an increase of resistance of the metallic cap thereby allowing the already bottled bottle with the cap to be subjected to greater variations of pressure and temperature. The present invention is useful for bottling bottles of wine, spirit drinks, beer, sparkling wine, among others.

TECHNICAL DOMAIN

The present application describes a metallic screw cap for bottles that comprises a cork section with truncated cone shape joined to the inner surface of the upper end of said cap.

The present invention is useful for bottling bottles of wine, spirit drinks, beer, sparkling wine, among others.

STATE OF THE ART

The metallic screw caps for bottles used until now by the potable liquids industry have an inner liner with disc shape that is inserted into the inner part of the top of the cap intended for sealing the container.

Several kinds of sealing discs are known from the state of the art, which are the most used in industry for this type of cap, namely:

-   -   The disk called Saranex consists of an expanded polyethylene         component (EPE) between two films of polyvinylidene chloride         (PVDC) and two low-density polyethylene (LDPE) layers;     -   The disk called Tin/Saran is composed of an expanded         polyethylene component (EPE), one paper film, one tin film and         one inert polyvinyl chloride film (PVDC) that is in contact with         the wine;     -   The disc called EPE is expanded polyethylene.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The metallic screw cap for bottles described in the present invention allows:

-   -   easy application, i.e. it does not changes the bottling process         of bottles with metallic caps;     -   further increases the sealing properties of the cap;     -   increase the resistance of the metallic cap allowing the already         bottled bottle with the cap to be subject to greater variations         in pressure and temperature.

An embodiment of the metallic screw cap for bottles comprises a cork section with truncated cone shape, i.e. a truncated cone joined to the inner surface of the top end of said cap.

In a further embodiment, said cork section of the described metallic screw cap can further comprise a cylindrical cork layer between the section with truncated cone shape and the inner surface of the upper end of said cap, and joined to said section and surface.

In another embodiment, the metallic screw cap described may further comprise a polymeric sealing layer on the inner surface of the top end of the said cap between the cork section with truncated cone shape and the cap. In another embodiment, the preferred sealant is silicone.

In another embodiment, said cork section or the cylindrical layer of cork of described metallic screw cap may be joined to the inner surface of the top end of said cap by means of an adhesive. In another preferred embodiment, the adhesive is suitable for food contact; even more preferably, the adhesive may be hot glue or hot melt adhesive, particularly Koramelt 316™.

In another embodiment of the described metallic screw cap, the polymeric sealant and the adhesive may be of the same material.

In another embodiment of the described metallic screw cap, the diameter of the cylindrical cork layer may be substantially equal, preferably equal to, the inner surface of the top end of said cap.

In another embodiment of the described metallic screw cap, the cork section with truncated cone shape or the cylindrical cork layer of said cap may comprise agglomerated cork in cork granules with a particle size distribution between 0.2-5 mm. The determination of the particle size distribution can be obtained by mechanical screening, for example by the method described in NP 115:1994 (3rd Ed.). The cylindrical cork layer should have a thickness in a range between 1 and 4 mm.

In another embodiment of the described metallic screw cap, the cap further comprises decorations or coatings, namely colors and/or insertion of informative or decorative elements. In even another embodiment, the cap part made of cork can further comprise decorations, namely colors and/or insertion of informative or decorative elements.

In another embodiment of the described metallic screw cap, it may comprise aluminum, among other metallic materials.

Another aspect of the present invention is a bottle that comprises any of the described metallic screw caps, preferably a bottle that comprises liquid, in particular wine, spirit drinks, sparkling wine, beer and others.

Thus, the present embodiment is also useful to create the concept of an obturator composed of a stopper and cap, simultaneously conferring better seal and decoration of the container's neck.

This embodiment finds application in glass containers, preferably containing potable liquids such as wine, among others.

One of the objectives of the metallic screw cap is to increase the sealing capacity of the cap, preferably made of aluminum with screw, making it resistant to variations and large thermal amplitudes. With this technique, concretely it is intended to solve the problem of sporadic oxidation of wine with cork stopper and give the aluminum screw cap a new attribute, favoring micro oxygenation, allowing the positive evolution of wine, namely the red, whilst extending the lifetime in the container.

The metallic material cap with cork stopper allows increasing the lifetime of certain potable liquids in the container, such as wine, as compared to metallic material cap with screw commonly known as “screwcap”, because of the cork's natural properties.

Being the cork a natural and biodegradable product, once used with the metallic material cap it immediately promotes the following advantages:

-   -   Improves carbon footprint of both manufacturer and bottler;     -   Transfers to this cap the natural properties of cork, allowing         volumetric dilations of the wine within the container during the         storage period and particularly transport. This process also         promotes the positive development of wines, particularly reds;     -   Ensures perfect sealing of the container during transport and         storage.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Following, an embodiment of the invention of described metallic screw cap with cork is presented.

The cap now shown is comprised of a metallic material cap, preferably aluminum, in conjunction with a stopper made of cork or cork agglomerate (section with truncated cone shape), preferably in the shape of cork micro surfacing, having a particle size distribution of the granules between 0.5 to 4 mm, and both connected through a suitable adhesive for contact with food, in particular KORAMELT 316™.

The described cap also has the ability to be opened and closed multiple times.

The manufacture of this type of container cap comprises the following steps:

-   -   Preparation of metallic material, which includes the following         steps:     -   stamping of metallic material;     -   stretching of metal material;     -   it may optionally involve a decoration step of the metallic         material used;     -   the opening of bridges and strengthening rings;     -   Preparation of cork, which comprises the following steps:     -   Preparation of cork granules by means of reduction of the         particle size distribution between 0.2 and 5 mm;     -   Extrusion and molding of obtained agglomerate;     -   Surface treatments to the cork's surface.

Surface treatments applied to the stopper are intended to increase the ease of insertion and extraction of this same component of the container's neck. An example is the food innocuous silicone based treatments to facilitate insertion and extraction of the cap.

The junction of the stopper with the metal component may be made by the following steps:

-   -   Guidance and feeding of the metal component;     -   Guidance and feeding of the stopper;     -   Placement of adhesive on the metallic component;     -   Placement of the stopper into the metallic component.

The preparation of the cap ends here, the remaining operations may be performed at the bottler, particularly with the following steps:

-   -   The cap is then placed on the top of the neck;     -   A pressure is applied on the top of the cap by the capper;     -   The stopper slides into the interior of the bottle, adopting the         diameter of the neck;     -   Molding of the top of the cap is made;     -   The cap is screwed to the glass;     -   An adjustment of the metallic material with the lower part of         the neck is made.

Processing of this cap implies that during the encapsulation/corking, the stopper is to be pressed into the container's neck and then molded to the upper part by virtue of the capper's presser foot, which exerts a force of between 150 and 250 Kg of pressure on the upper part and between 5 and 15 Kg on the side rollers. Thus, a tight seal is obtained due to the reaction force of the section with truncated cone shape against the wall of the container's neck as well as the force exerted by the aluminum in the stopper throughout the life of the assembly. This cap still features the ability of being reusable thus providing the stopper a further practical character.

The manufacture of this type of container cap comprises the following steps:

-   -   Preparation of metallic material, which includes the following         steps:         -   stamping the metallic material;         -   stretching the metallic material;         -   it may optionally involve a decoration step of the metallic             material used;         -   the opening of bridges and strengthening rings;     -   Preparation of the cork, which comprises the following steps:     -   Preparation of cork granules by means of reduction of the         particle size distribution to between 0.2 and 5 mm, in another         embodiment the particle size distribution is between 0.5 and 2         mm;     -   Extrusion and molding of the obtained agglomerate;     -   Surface treatments to the cork's surface.     -   The cap is then placed on the top of the neck;     -   A pressure is applied on the top of the cap by the capper;     -   The stopper slides into the interior of the bottle, adopting the         diameter of the neck;     -   Molding of the top of the cap is made;     -   The cap is screwed to the glass;     -   An adjustment of the metallic material with the lower part of         the neck is made.

Surface treatments applied to the stopper are intended to increase the ease of insertion and extraction of this same component of the container's neck. One example is the food innocuous silicone based treatments to facilitate insertion and extraction of the cap.

Thus, the described metallic screw cap improves the sealing properties as well as oxygen transfer and maturation. Compared with the prior art, it thus becomes possible a double seal on the upper part and side of the container, also taking advantage of the natural properties of micro oxygenation of the cork.

The disclosed metallic screw cap will specifically benefit all products requiring consistent sealing, as well as micro oxygenation during the storage period, for example in the case of red wines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For an easier understanding of the invention the attached figures are joined, which represent preferred embodiments of the invention that, however, are not meant to limit the object of the present application.

FIG. 1 shows a flowchart with a processing mode of the cap shown in the present application.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the container's cap with the section with the truncated cone shape inserted.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the cap.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the cap.

In said figures, (1) represents the metallic screw cap, (3) represents the cork section with truncated cone shape and (2) the cork layer.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the stopper in which all measurements are showed in mm.

This embodiment is naturally not in any way restricted to the embodiments described in this document and a person of ordinary skills in the area may provide many modification possibilities thereof without departing from the general idea as defined in the claims.

All embodiments above described are obviously combinable with each other. The following claims further define preferred embodiments. 

1. Metallic screw cap for bottles which comprises a section with truncated cone shape of cork/cork agglomerate joined to the inner surface of the upper end of said cap, wherein the section of cork/cork agglomerate further comprises a cylindrical cork layer/cork agglomerate between the section with truncated cone shape and the inner surface of the upper end of said cap, and joined to said section and surface.
 2. Cap according to claim 1, further comprising a polymeric sealing layer on the inner surface of the top end of said cap between the cork section with truncated cone shape and the cap.
 3. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the section with truncated cone shape of cork/agglomerated cork or the cylindrical layer of cork/cork agglomerate is joined to the inner surface of the upper part of said cap through an adhesive.
 4. Cap according to claim 3, wherein the polymeric sealant and the adhesive are made of the same material.
 5. Cap according to claim 2, wherein the seal is made of silicone or a polymeric material.
 6. Cap according to claim 3, wherein the adhesive is suitable for food contact.
 7. Cap according to claim 6, wherein the adhesive is hot glue or hot melt adhesive.
 8. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the height of the cork section with truncated cone shape ranges between 0.5-50 mm.
 9. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the height of the cork section with truncated cone shape ranges between 10-25 mm.
 10. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the section with truncated cone shape is slightly inferior than the inner diameter of the neck of said bottle.
 11. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the cork section with truncated cone shape ranges between 10-30 mm.
 12. Cap according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the cylindrical cork layer ranges between 1-4 mm.
 13. Cap according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the cylindrical cork layer ranges between 1.5-2 mm.
 14. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the cylindrical cork layer is substantially equal to the inner surface of the upper part of said cap.
 15. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the cork section with truncated cone shape or the cylindrical cork layer comprises cork granules with a particle size distribution between 0.2-5 mm.
 16. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the cork section with truncated cone shape or the cylindrical cork layer comprises cork granules having a particle size distribution of 0.5-2 mm.
 17. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap further comprises decorations.
 18. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the metallic cap comprises aluminum.
 19. (canceled)
 20. (canceled)
 21. Method for manufacturing the cap described in claim 1, comprising the following steps: preparing the metallic material, which includes the following steps, stamping of metallic material, stretching of metallic material and opening of bridges, and strengthening rings; preparing a cork section, comprising agglomerating the cork, extruding and molding the obtained agglomerate; coupling the stopper to the interior of the metallic material.
 22. Method according to claim 21, wherein the preparation of the metallic material further comprises the step of decorating the metallic material. 